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In this article we report on progress in the development of software tools for fluid flow prediction in the polymer processing industry. This involves state‐of‐the‐art numerical techniques and the study of a number of non‐trivial model flow problems, in an effort to investigate realistic transient problems relevant to industrial processes. Here we study particularly the effects of variations in non‐Newtonian and heat transfer properties of the flowing materials in the flows, both throughout the transient development period and at steady‐state.

A derivation for the finite element equations of consolidation by the principle of virtual work and virtual complementary work is presented. This provides a simple alternative to derivation by variational principles or the Laplace transform. In the final part of the paper the equations are rearranged into a form suitable for time stepping for non‐linear applications.

This paper aims to investigate whether corporate social responsibility (CSR), as evidenced in annual financial reports, is associated with a firm’s financial performance in New Zealand.

A word count approach of several key CSR indicators found in the audited financial reports of NZX50 constituent firms is used. Several variables are constructed that measure the presence of CSR within the annual report such as sustainability, responsibility, social, environment, diversity, employee and community, and eight other variables within the annual report that measure the penetration of stakeholder engagement. Control variables and alternative measures of CSR are also included. Descriptive statistics and results of both univariate and multivariate tests are provided.

The findings establish a positive connection between CSR and financial performance. It is shown that firms that are unable to focus their attention on key stakeholders, but instead waste managerial capital on vague social policies and activities, are associated with weaker performance. Firms that consider the protected indigenous peoples as key stakeholders are associated with superior performance, especially when the firm is seeking regulatory approval.

Evidence is provided that CSR and Maori stakeholder engagement is implied by financial reports that have a significant association with corporate financial performance.

The results provide one of the first analyses linking the interplay between CSR, Maori and corporate financial performance using information publicly observable in annual financial reports. Evidence of an association between firms that indicate awareness of their community and higher levels of return on assets (ROA) is provided.

Considers the filling stage of an injection moulding process for polymer melts through a transient finite element method. Presents results for a thin‐walled cup‐shaped mould problem. Adopts a generalized Newtonian formulation for inelastic non‐isothermal incompressible flow under cooling conditions. Gives some attention to the transient aspects of the problem, including the motion of the melt front and the numerical deformation patterns that develop. Advocates a localized remeshing technique that tracks the moving front effectively.

This article is concerned with the numerical simulation of a reverse roller‐coating process, which involves the computation of Newtonian viscous incompressible flows with free‐surfaces. A numerical scheme is applied of a transient finite element form, a semi‐implicit Taylor‐Galerkin/pressurecorrection algorithm. For free‐surface prediction, we use kinematic boundary adjustment with a mesh‐stretching algorithm. In the present work, an alloy sheet (foil) passes over a large roller and then a smaller applicator roller, which provides the in‐feed. In combination, the applicator roller, the foil and the fluid form part of the underside coating mechanism. The aim of this study is to investigate fundamental aspects of the process, to ultimately address typical coating instabilities. These may take the form of chatter and starvation. A uniform coating thickness is the desired objective. A mathematical model is derived to describe the solvent coating applied to the underside of the sheet, assuming that the lacquer is a Newtonian fluid. In particular, the work has concentrated on the flow patterns that result and a parameter sensitivity analysis covering the appropriate operating windows of applied conditions. Effects of independent variation in roll‐speed and foil‐speed are investigated, to find that maxima in pressure, lift and drag arise at the nip and are influenced in a linear fashion.

Driven by the development in sensing techniques and information and communications technology, and their applications in the manufacturing system, data-driven quality control methods play an essential role in the quality improvement of assembly products. This paper aims to review the development of data-driven modeling methods for process monitoring and fault diagnosis in multi-station assembly systems. Furthermore, the authors discuss the applications of the methods proposed and present suggestions for future studies in data mining for quality control in product assembly.

This paper provides an outline of data-driven process monitoring and fault diagnosis methods for reduction in variation. The development of statistical process monitoring techniques and diagnosis methods, such as pattern matching, estimation-based analysis and artificial intelligence-based diagnostics, is introduced.

A classification structure for data-driven process control techniques and the limitations of their applications in multi-station assembly processes are discussed. From the perspective of the engineering requirements of real, dynamic, nonlinear and uncertain assembly systems, future trends in sensing system location, data mining and data fusion techniques for variation reduction are suggested.

This paper reveals the development of process monitoring and fault diagnosis techniques, and their applications in variation reduction in multi-station assembly.

This paper has the purpose of exploring the use of the semantic web to support project information management. It aims to discuss the development of a semantic web based framework for shared definitions of terms, resources and relationships within a construction project. These can be used to help and support intelligent collaboration.

The paper explores the scope of using the semantic web to manage information management processes in the construction industry. It develops the hypothesis that information can be managed using appropriate tools and techniques and develops a roadmap that shows the way in which a solution can be achieved.

The discussion provides information on the technology that can be used to manage construction project information and the development of ontology is provided in detail.

The paper makes an original contribution of exploring an area (information management tools and techniques) that is at the forefront of discussion in academe and industry in the UK.

The chapter was prompted by the trend towards providing public health messaging through social marketing. The purpose is to understand the determinants of walking within a city in terms of framing policy to promote greater physical activity (PA). This is demonstrated through the context of Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The chapter provides a literature review and showcases a case-study. Descriptive statistics are presented on how far Sydneysiders walk using Household Travel Survey data and how this might be changed if short motorised trips are converted to walking. Modelling walking time follows to see if there are policy levers that could be used to increase walking time. Over 78% of Sydney’s population do not meet the recommended PA target of 30 minutes per day. Converting short motorised to walking provides marginal improvement. Walking to access activities contributes more to total walking time than walking to/from public transport. Modelling suggests potential policy levers to increase PA. Targeting driving licence holders, households without cars and promoting walkable environments are found most effective. Promoting undertaking more activities on foot is likely to be more successful than promoting walking for short trips. The chapter provides an overview of PA around the world and an empirical case study of walking in Sydney, NSW, Australia. In turn this provides an evidence base for more successful targeting of social marketing messaging for public health.

This research focuses on examining the dynamics of task and interpersonal conflict related to the creativity of teams over five stages of a project's life cycle. Data were collected from 142 respondents of information system development project teams of a service‐driven type, and from 106 respondents of new product development teams of a technology‐driven type. Results indicate that interpersonal conflict has a negative impact on creativity for a service‐driven project team. However, task conflict has a positive impact on creativity for a technology‐driven project team. The findings suggest that managing different types of project teams necessitates concern with the variations of conflict and creativity over a project's life cycle.